SKF has signed an agreement with Siemens SGP Transportation Systems for delivery of some 900 axle bridges, with an option for an additional 1,000.

SKF has been working in close cooperation with the competence centre for bogies at Siemens SGP in Austria and will optimise the axle-bridge design for the company’s Combino low-floor tramcars, used by mass transit systems worldwide. The aim is to reduce weight and improve performance. The new design consists of integrated tapered roller bearings and a cranked axle bridge that supports the two independent wheels on both sides. The bearing unit design is optionally based on an electrically insulated INSOCOAT™ outer ring to avoid electric current passage, which has a negative impact on performance.

The axle bridges will be fitted with SKF wheels, brakes, couplings and earth-return systems and delivered to the customer as ready-to-mount components.